By Jude Atupulazi
Nigerian women have been urged not to shy away from challenges but to brace up to them. The President/Founder of All for Women Initiative Nigeria (A-WIN), Mrs Stella Igboka, made this call during the launch of the Non-Governmental Organization at Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Centre, Awka, March 8.
According to her, All for Women Initiative Nigeria was founded and conceptualized based on the team’s resolve to make indelible marks and positive difference in the lives of women, the girl-child and the vulnerable in Society in simple, but result-oriented ways.
Her words, ‘A-WIN thrives on a collaborative philosophy for all to come together for the uplift and development of women; and so, A-WIN is designed as a win-win approach for both genders, for all professions, for children, for youths and for adults to support women to succeed.
‘It is a platform, umbrella and rallying point for all hands to be on deck for the advancement and empowerment of women through advocacy and hands-on deck projects.
‘A-WIN is all about women, but everybody must participate because the woman is the centre of the family, and the family is the smallest unit of society. Therefore, if the woman is empowered and advanced, the family will obviously follow suit and our society and our world will progress to be a better place for all.
‘This is also in line with the objectives of this year’s theme of UN International Women’s Day: ”Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress”.’
Mrs Igboka said for A-WIN, this year’s International Women’s Day Celebration and theme called for sober reflection and rediscovery of themselves individually and collectively as a way to identify and erase inherent threats that militated against the growth and development of women.
Continuing, Igboka said, ‘It is as a result of this that A-WIN advanced deeper in localizing the theme and adopted “Gear Up Women, Aspire, Win” as the theme of this Summit. We are richly blessed with an array of experienced experts and those who should know and who will speak to us on the subjects.
‘It is our belief that women must gear up for greater opportunities so as to be more prepared, better equipped and very ready to be counted in, to be Invested in, for us all to accelerate progress.
‘This requires women to come together and rally around one another, even while attracting collaboration from our respected male counterparts. It is only by so doing, will women advance in gearing up for greater opportunities, discovering and utilizing the strength that lies in togetherness.
‘I am very happy that this collaboration of A-WIN and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has yielded great results. Already, women are having their free medical services and dispensing of drugs in the premises, courtesy of the Anambra State Primary Health Agency.
It is pertinent to note that in the course of this event, we shall unveil our 5 Premium Projects for 2024. We will also unveil “A-WIN World”, a special publication for promotion of women and all those, who diligently support women, the girl-child and vulnerable people among us. We humbly solicit your generosity.’
The event was attended by many dignitaries and government officials who included, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Prof Joseph Ikechebelu, who in his lecture commended the free maternal services of the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo; a former Minister of Women’s Affairs, Josephine Aneni, who called for equality, fairness and justice for women; and the Anambra State Commissioner for Women’s Affairs, Mrs Ify Obinabo,who thanked the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adeoye Aderemi, for ensuring accelerated handling of criminal matters in the state, as well as appreciated the Chief Magistrate in charge of Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court in the state for her expedient handling of cases, saying her unbiased disposition of justice had contributed in reducing cases of violence against women and children in the state; as well as the State Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, who spoke on the topic, ”The role of women on proactive policing and peaceful society”.
Highlight of the event was the unveiling and launch of the NGO’s magazine, ”A-Win World”.
